Legendary Trinidadian Calypso singer the Mighty Sparrow has passed away. R.I.P..
Here's an old post, slightly updated, about his work with Byron Lee including their Eurovision covers.
Original post
Not very likely that Jamaica, home of Reggae music, will ever participate in our beloved contest anytime soon, but then, no one imagined Jamaica at the Winter Olympics either. (UPDATE Or Canada in Eurovision....)In the 60's and early seventies some of the great Eurovision hits found their way to the Caribbean island so famous for its music and were covered by local singers from the 60's to (almost) present day.
Don't expect Bob Marley style militant Jah praising revolutionary stuff though, it's often more smmoth reggae of the Lovers Rock variety.
'Puppet on a string' must have been a popular tune in Jamaica as at least 15 artists from Jamaica have covered the song. (see below)
Byron Lee (1935-2008) was the most active of them all, having 5 coverversions to his name.
Although very popular at home, his only worldwide claim to fame is 'Only a fool' with the Mighty Sparrow from Trinidad, a 1969 recording that became a big hit in the Netherlands and Belgium in 1977/1978. It was the #2 selling single of 1978 in the Netherlands.
Byron Lee has released many cds featuring reggae, soca and soft pop.
Although very popular at home, his only worldwide claim to fame is 'Only a fool' with the Mighty Sparrow from Trinidad, a 1969 recording that became a big hit in the Netherlands and Belgium in 1977/1978. It was the #2 selling single of 1978 in the Netherlands.
Byron Lee has released many cds featuring reggae, soca and soft pop.
The Mighty Sparrow has released over 50 albums.
Byron Lee's & the Mighty Sparrow's Eurovision songs:
Volare - the Mighty Sparrow
Volare - the Mighty Sparrow
- on CD Soca Jam Back #2 (BLS records, 1999)
Walk away (Warum nur warum) - Byron Lee with the Mighty Sparrow
- on LP Sparrow meets the dragon from 1969 , also includes 'Only a fool'
Al di la - Byron Lee with the Dragonaires
- on LP The sounds of Jamaica (Towers Hall productions)
Love is blue - Byron Lee with the Dragonaires
- on a 7" single (on his own Dynamic label) - b side to Elisabeth Serenade
Eres tu - Byron Lee with the Dragoniares
- Mellow version with only the chorus sung (in English) on CD Soft Lee 4.
Puppet on a string * - Byron Lee with the Dragonaires
- The most covered Eurovision song in Jamaica, from the CD 'No woman no cry'.
* Puppet on a string versions will be featured frequently in this blog in 2007 to celebrate Sandie Shaws birthday and the 40th anniversary of her Eurovision victory. Year Of The Puppet.
Check out Jamaican versions by Ken Boothe, Tyrone Taylor, Enos McCloud and Paul Sinclair.
- on LP Sparrow meets the dragon from 1969 , also includes 'Only a fool'
Al di la - Byron Lee with the Dragonaires
- on LP The sounds of Jamaica (Towers Hall productions)
Love is blue - Byron Lee with the Dragonaires
- on a 7" single (on his own Dynamic label) - b side to Elisabeth Serenade
Eres tu - Byron Lee with the Dragoniares
- Mellow version with only the chorus sung (in English) on CD Soft Lee 4.
Puppet on a string * - Byron Lee with the Dragonaires
- The most covered Eurovision song in Jamaica, from the CD 'No woman no cry'.
* Puppet on a string versions will be featured frequently in this blog in 2007 to celebrate Sandie Shaws birthday and the 40th anniversary of her Eurovision victory. Year Of The Puppet.
Check out Jamaican versions by Ken Boothe, Tyrone Taylor, Enos McCloud and Paul Sinclair.
